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Rare, threatened, or endangered plants that occur in San Joaquin County are listed in Table 3.3-3. Many of these grow and are limited to specific vegetation communities and/or habitat types such as freshwater marsh or riparian woodland (CNPS, 1988). As mentioned above, suitable habitat exists on the site for eight rare plant species; however, these habitats may be marginal due to intrusion and disturbance from agricultural and industrial development. Sensitive Wildlife Species No state or federally listed endangered, threatened or candidate wildlife species were observed during HLA surveys. The CNDDB, California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) were contacted and none reported previously documented occurrence of any state or federally listed species of concern. However, the project site is located within the range of four sensitive species: California tiger salamander, valley elderberry longhorn beetle, Black-shouldered kite, and Swainson's hawk. California tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is a state listed species of special concern and a federal candidate. It prefers a habitat mixture of valley grassland and oak woodland located near shallow ponds or other water sources. These nocturnal species commonly burrow into moist ground or leafy debris in a mole-like fashion. They are rarely seen above the surface except on rainy nights or in early spring when they congregate around a breeding pond. The species typically lays their eggs in water (Lehman, W., pers. comm.). Potential habitat does exist for this species within the study area. Valley elderberry longhorn beetle (Desmocerus calijornicus ssp. dimorphus) is a federally listed threatened species. The species is endemic to moist valley oak woodlands along the margins of rivers and streams in the lower Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, where its foodplant, elderberry, grows. The beetle lays eggs in cracks and crevices of the bark of the living elderberry plants. The eggs hatch, larvae bore into the larger stems and roots of the elderberry, and when ready to hatch, opens an emergence hole through the bark and then returns to the pith for pupation. The entire life cycle can take two years. Adult emergence coincides with the elderberry flowering period (Nagano, C., pers. cont.). Elderberry shrubs occur within the riparian corridor and 51